Wednesday, February 4, 2009

University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University to play each other in football every year.

North Dakota lawmakers say they're willing to soften a bill that requires the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University to play each other in football every year.

The state House Education Committee is considering the bill. The two schools played each other for more than a century before NDSU began the process of joining the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision. They haven't played since 2003.

Grand Forks Rep. Corey Mock is a sponsor of the bill. He says he's willing to change the measure to encourage the two schools to play each other without requiring that it happen.

Mock says lawmakers have heard critics say the issue should not be debated in the Legislature. But he says the bill was requested by people in his district during his election campaign last year.